To: Wellesley College Faculty and Staff
From: President Paula A. Johnson
Re: Heidi Vanderbilt-Brown appointed vice president for finance and administration and treasurer
Date: June 23, 2026
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Heidi Vanderbilt-Brown as Wellesley’s vice president for finance and administration and treasurer, following a national search.
Heidi comes to Wellesley with more than 15 years of experience in leadership roles in both secondary and higher education, most recently as the chief financial and operating officer at Milton Academy and previously as the associate director in the Office of Financial Strategy and Planning at Harvard University.
At Milton Academy, Heidi oversees the vast majority of the school’s administrative functions including finance and operations, facilities, dining, human resources, campus safety, and campus services and events. During her 11 years at Milton, she has built strong relationships with the campus community including the board of trustees, faculty, staff, and students, and she has established a remarkable track record of balancing operating budgets and managing successful capital projects.
At Harvard University, she managed the design and implementation of multiyear financial planning initiatives, including working with the institution’s schools and units to develop Harvard’s multibillion-dollar annual budget. Her previous roles include consulting positions at the Boston Consulting Group and the Advisory Board Company, where she focused on academic medical centers and other healthcare companies and organizations.
Heidi is a consummate professional who will bring a rare blend of sharp intellect, deep operational experience, and a dedicated work ethic to her role at the College. As an accomplished and empathetic leader, Heidi possesses an intuitive understanding of people that inspires trust and brings out the best in everyone.
As vice president for finance and administration and treasurer, Heidi will play a critical role in supporting the strategic vision of the College while overseeing finance, operations, and budgeting, facilities and dining, public safety, campus services, and event management. She will have fiduciary responsibility for all College resources and will partner with the broader College community to ensure strong stewardship of those resources in service of achieving Wellesley’s mission.
Heidi shared, “I am delighted to join Wellesley at such a pivotal moment for the College and in higher education more broadly. The mission of educational organizations has never been more important, and Wellesley’s multifaceted, globally aware education ensures that graduates will continue to serve and lead others with worldwide impact. I look forward to partnering with President Johnson and the school’s leadership, trustees, faculty, staff, and students to realize Wellesley’s ambitions while maintaining its financial sustainability.”
I want to thank the members of the search committee for their hard work and dedication throughout this process: Sarah Jane Gunter, chair of the board of trustees; Chris Pasko, vice chair of the board of trustees; Maia Heymann, chair of the board’s Campus and Finance Committee; Debora de Hoyos, trustee emerita and former board chair; Courtney Coile, provost and Lia Gelin Poorvu ’56 Dean of the College; Deborah Kuenstner, chief investment officer; Casey Rothschild, Norma Wilentz Hess Professor of Economics and a member of the Committee on Faculty Appointments; Orit Shaer, Michael and Denise Kellen ’68 Chair in the Sciences, co-chair of computer science, and chair of the Budget Advisory Committee; and Carolyn Slaboden, chief human resources officer.
Please join me in warmly welcoming Heidi Vanderbilt-Brown to Wellesley when she begins on September 1. I know everyone in our community will enjoy working with her.